CHELSEA refused to apologise to Mark Clattenburg last night after a Football Association investigation found the referee had no case to answer in the John Obi Mikel race row.

Mark Clattenburg wants compensation and a formal apology from the club []

Clattenburg
wants compensation and a formal apology from the club after the FA
probe discovered the allegation that he had said “Shut up, you monkey”,
made by Mikel’s team-mate Ramires, was contradicted by other witnesses.

Mikel
faces a ban after being charged with misconduct for his behaviour in or
near the match officials’ room after the match against Manchester
United at Stamford Bridge on October 28.

Chelsea
midfielder Mikel has requested a personal hearing and has until next
Friday to respond to the charge. The club issued a statement last night,
but it did not contain an apology to Clattenburg, which prompted a further barrage of criticism of their handling of this affair.

Clattenburg has not taken charge of a game since the incident and last night said: “To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening. Racism has no place in football and this experience should not discourage those to speak out if they genuinely believe they are a victim of abuse.

Chelsea midfielder Mikel has requested a personal hearing

“However, there are processes that should be adhered to in order that any investigation can be carried out in a manner that is fair for all parties involved. I know first-hand the ramifications of allegations of this nature being placed into the public domain ahead of a formal process and investigation.

“I hope no referee has to go through this in the future. I’m looking forward to putting this behind me and concentrating on refereeing in the Premier League and other competitions. Messages of encouragement from those inside and outside of the game have helped me through the most stressful time of my professional life.”

Alan Leighton, spokesman for the professional referees’ union, Prospect, said Clattenburg would like to receive an apology and added: “What we now need to happen is for Chelsea to accept the verdict, to fully apologise unreservedly to Mark for the actions they’ve taken in damaging his career, and to compensate him for that. Furthermore, it would be right for them to make a donation to Show Racism The Red Card and Kick It Out to help the fight against racism that we need to continue in football and elsewhere.”

The FA conducted a thorough investigation into the affair and concluded that Ramires’ claims, although “made in good faith”, could not be backed up. Chelsea insist they had a duty to report the claim, but that Mikel would not deny the charge against him.

A club statement read: “The FA states Chelsea took the correct action following the Manchester United match and encourages all players who believe they have been either subject, or witness to discriminatory abuse, to report the matter immediately to the match officials on the day, and in turn to the FA.

“The club also notes the charge brought against John Mikel Obi. While the player does not deny the charge, he will request a personal hearing to explain the mitigating circumstances.

“With regards to the Mark Clattenburg decision, the club accepts the case is now concluded and notes the FA states the allegation was made in good faith.”

Referees will now be recorded when they officiate a match, not for public consumption but to be used in case of disputes like this one.

There are also calls from the Professional Game Match Officials Board for referees’ rooms to have better security so players and other club staff cannot enter when tempers run high after matches.

An FA statement said: “The evidence for the allegation came from one witness. Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained his instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from Mikel as to what the referee had said.

“Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is suggested was said to him. Three other witnesses – the other match officials, to whom everything said by the referee was relayed via their communication equipment – are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.